Candle & Bell has appointed a new Executive Producer as it seeks to grow audio production in the North East.
The Gateshead production company has recruited voice director and podcast expert Ella Watts to help them develop audio content.
“Audio is a big part of our business plans and we want to bring more audio productions, whether they are original or branded podcasts, radio shows or audio books, to our studios here in Gateshead. Hiring an executive producer is key to growing and expanding our offering in the audio space and Ella brings with her a proven track record in producing scripted comedy and drama,” explained Maria Caruana Galizia, Managing Director at Candle & Bell.
“With an understanding of scripted audio storytelling, strong editorial skills and an in-depth understanding of the audio commissioning landscape, we are delighted to welcome Ella to the team.”
READ MORE – Candle & Bell are Going OOT on BBC Radio 4
Watts has previously worked as a podcast producer at BBC Sounds, co-creating Doctor Who: Redacted. She was also director and producer of Crowd Network’s Eliza: A Robot Story, and writer and director of Camlann: An Audio Drama.
She was Head of Production at Six to Start, the company behind gaming app Zombies, Run!, leading on its Marvel Move project in partnership with Marvel Comics.
“I’m so thrilled to be working with Candle and Bell. It’s a great feeling to get to work beside two women as experienced and skilled as Maria and Zahra, who are championing marginalised voices in the media industry and making great stories at the same time. This is exactly where I want to be and what I want to be doing,’ said Watts.
Candle & Bell’s first podcast was “The Newcastle Witches Podcast” in 2022, which was followed by BBC Radio 4 sitcom “Tom and Lauren are Going OOT!” released last year.
